Fancy Crocs: A love story
Marina Terteryan
I’d like to share with you my life hack of life hacks that has completely changed my experience of standing desks and given me a workday freedom that I never knew before. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll buy new shoes.
Life hacks are one of the best sources of knowledge. When I’m doing design research, I keep an eye on the life hacks that people use for products or services. These are often indicators of opportunities for uncovering and solving needs.
This story begins at the bottom of the Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris, France. Bear with me - it’s worth it.
While working on my master’s degree in Paris, I decided one day to visit the Arc de Triomphe and experience the incredible 360-degree view of one of my favorite cities in the world. It was my last chance, as I was due to leave Paris the following day. After purchasing a ticket at the ground level of the monument, I was told that I had to climb many, many flights of stairs to get to the observation deck at the top.
Normally, I’m always up for a challenge. But at the time, all my travel had aggravated the old sparring injuries in both my knees. The thought of climbing 284 stairs made me want to cry. But my friend and I had rushed there to catch the sunset view and I wasn’t going to miss my chance.
So I found myself standing at the bottom of this overwhelming staircase, desperate for another way to the top.
“Monsieur, is there any other way to get to the top?” I asked the security guard, pointing to the bulky knee support wraps strapped on both knees, to show him I was injured.
“Oui. We have an elevator for this case. You can use it but I have to call someone to take you.”
“Oh, merci! Vous êtes mon héros!”
The security guard phoned his colleague and told us to go to the corner near the elevator. A few minutes later, another security guard appeared.
“Oui?” he asked with a stern face.
“Bonjour, I was told you could help me to take the elevator to the top of the deck?”
“Why?”
“I thought it was for people who couldn’t climb the stairs. I can’t climb that many stairs.”
He looked me up and down, passing my knee support wraps and looking directly at my feet. I was wearing the most comfortable pair of shoes in the world - my comfortable rubber sandals.
“You don’t look a person who can’t climb stairs,” he said, unimpressed.
“No, really, I can’t climb right now. My knee injuries are flaring up.”
I could see he was starting to get agitated.
“Someone who can’t climb stairs wouldn’t be wearing shoes like that.” He pointed angrily at my shoes.
“Oh, no, you don’t understand. These are fancy Crocs. They aren’t regular shoes.”
“They’re what?”
“You know, Crocs shoes? They are a Canadian comfort brand.”
“I’ve heard of this brand,” he raised his voice. “They don’t look like this.”
At this point, we were both stressed out. I wracked my brain trying to explain to this man (1) what Crocs were, (2) the fact that they have fancy styles, (3) that they were comfortable enough to wear while walking around, even with an injury.
He was now thoroughly confused and had probably already categorized me as an annoying tourist to complain about to his friends at dinner.
Not knowing what else to do, I knelt down, took off my left shoe, and held it up to him, trying to balance on my tip toe to maintain my eye level against his.
“Here, feel it. It’s rubber. It’s not a typical shoe. I can wear them even with an injury. And yes, they have fancy styles now. I can walk in them, I just can’t climb in them because I can’t climb.”
I could see him starting to laugh but trying to keep a straight face, until he couldn’t contain it anymore. We both broke out in laughter.
“I promise I’m not being lazy. I just want to see the sunset without hurting myself.”
“Ok ok. Allons,” he sighed amusedly and gestured towards the elevator.
I made it to the top just in time and saw one of the most beautiful sunsets, and then stayed for the lighting of the Eiffel Tower. After the observation deck closed, it was a lot easier to get back down in the elevator because the new guard just wanted to clear everyone out quickly. I didn’t see the first guard again, but I hope he had a better story to tell his friends at dinner.
The end.
So, there are two reasons I told you this story.
First, if you know anybody who works at Crocs, please send them to me because I’d like them to sponsor this blog. I’m not their typical fashion influencer, but I have convinced many, many people to wear fancy Crocs with this life hack.
Second, and most importantly, you’ve heard me say that you should never use a standing desk without standing on rubber. You’ve also heard me talk about anti-fatigue mats as an option.
There are, indeed, a lot of great rubber mats on the market. However, if you are moving around throughout the day, or if you don’t use a dedicated work space, the best thing is to wear rubber-soled shoes.
You shouldn’t ever stand barefoot at a standing desk. And you shouldn’t wear typical shoes (unless you then stand on a rubber mat).
This is where Crocs come in. They are basically like having an anti-fatigue mat strapped to your feet, and they are the most comfortable things EVER.
Wearing them while using a standing desk has been a game changer for me because it has allowed me to move around and remain comfortable no matter where I am.
I had discovered Crocs in my 20s, when my musculoskeletal injuries were getting so bad that I couldn’t wear my beloved high heels anymore. Over the years, I watched as the brand developed more fashionable heels and boots options, and I eagerly visiting the store every few months to see what new items they had. I am now obsessed with what I call “Fancy Crocs” and they are honestly the only shoes I can wear comfortably anymore. Luckily, they have options for all kinds of styles.
I got teased for years (especially by my grandmother, who asked why I was buying both her and my shoes at the same store), but I am now getting vindication. I even sometimes meet other people who wear fancy Crocs and recognize my shoes and we high five like we are in a secret society. One time, someone at a supermarket stopped and asked me if these were fancy Crocs and if they were worth it. So of course, I took them off my feet and let her try them on. She ordered a pair on her phone, right in the middle of the store. It’s a whole thing, and I am shameless about it. :)
But you didn’t come here to read only about my shoes. You came here for my enthusiastic recommendation that you make sure to stand on a rubber surface while you work at a standing desk. And a further enthusiastic suggestion that you should consider wearing Crocs in place of using an anti-fatigue mat.
Think about it: you’re standing all day. If you wouldn’t stand in your current shoes for hours at a time anywhere, then you shouldn’t be attempting it at a standing desk. Of course, there are lots of rubber-soled shoes out there, but I do swear by this one specific brand because they tend to be the most comfortable.
Three important things to keep in mind, even when wearing rubber shoes:
If you wear fancy Crocs (which tend to have heels), don’t forget to re-adjust your standing desk and monitor so that you’re maintaining your proper keyboard and monitor heights.
You still have to move around periodically, even in rubber shoes. Standing in one position is just as bad as sitting in one position. The shoes just make it easier to move around or dance.
Don’t lean to one side, as mentioned in a previous writing. Try to stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, facing straight ahead.
The most helpful part for me has been allowing me to move around as I work, from the office room to other parts of the house when I’m working from home. Or between areas in client offices, co-working spaces, coffee shops, airports when I’m on the go… basically all the places where it is easy for me to create a standing desk situation but not possible to drag a fatigue mat with me.
This life hack of life hacks is a further reminder that, as people with desk jobs that work outside a traditional office, we have to find new ways to maintain our own health. The marketplace hasn’t exactly caught up to our needs. But with the help of some fancy Crocs or other rubber-soled shoes, this one equipment need (the anti-fatigue rubber surface) can be solved.